Obama continues to harm U.S. race relations

The question is: Did President Obama's speech on the Zimmerman acquittal on Friday heal or damage race relations.

For me, it damaged them. President Obama, his wife and children have basked in more privilege than my family and I ever did as white folks. I do not begrudge them but I expect them to appreciate that fact. I am not sympathetic to his supposed grievances against so- called white America. He was followed around in departments; what of it? Suspicious persons albeit innocent males or females and of varied races are followed around, too. Toughen up, brother, and count your blessings. The Obamas have had many, many more than most.

For my own good, I have to take precautions in an unsafe and unfair world. As a female, I am always looking over my shoulder when I am approached by a group of young males or am walking in a dark parking lot. All males, of any race are possible predators even though most men abhor rape. How am I supposed to know the difference?

This president had an opportunity to smooth out some wrinkles in race relations. Instead, he pressed them into the hearts of Americans one more time. Sympathizing with some historical black male experience is not grounds to offset the absolute imperative that justice must be blind, not race based, not emotive. Denying the courageous civil rights movement undertaken by today's Social Security/Medicare card holders by asserting that his daughters' generation is morally superior is a slap in the face to the freedom fighters of the '60s or minimally an inexcusable display of ignorance on the part of this president.

As a female I faced discrimination. Equally trained, I lost jobs to males and lost equal pay. It's harsh. My field, in my day was a male bastion, totally. Graduate school catalogues proudly advertised that they limited the number of female enrollees to their philosophy departments and I read those catalogues. Yep, my precious little feelings were hurt, too. I was frustrated and held back as a female.

In the mid '70s, when offered a fellowship in a Texas university in its philosophy department, to the balding, gray haired, male department chairman who went to bat for me, I cynically retorted with my best feminist flippancy: "What's the matter? You need a female to keep your funding?" I accepted the grant and entered that male barracks of intellectualism, dropped the feminist lip and these macho Texas gents became my protective brothers and professional partners. I grew to love and respect them. Unlikely as it might have been, this Yankee lady was able to fit in with these Texas good old boys. The fates are gracious too.

My experience teaches that times and things have changed in the last half century, if we let them. Twice, America elected this black president. In light of this breakthrough, if he and his attorney general respond to such situations like the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy by race baiting, by pretending Americans never rejected racism, never took serious action to end discrimination; if, instead, they personally instigate nationwide witch hunts against citizens acquitted of crimes through due process, we are doomed.

With these official responses, we should throw up our hands and accept that nothing Americans do is right. There will be no moving on because we are just a hateful people.

Joan Z. Greiner

FLEMINGTON

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Obama continues to harm U.S. race relations

The question is: Did President Obama's speech on the Zimmerman acquittal on Friday heal or damage race relations.

A link to this page will be included in your message.

Real Deals

Sales, coupons, circulars and more from your favorite Morris County area retailers.